• Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets.
• Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U. S. Nearly 5,000 units of platelets and 6.500 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.
• Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
• Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives.
• The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 units.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
• Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they can only come from volunteer donors.
• The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.
• One donation can help save more than one life.
• According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment. 

Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. 

We all know someone facing one of these situations!

Ideal Donation Type

Platelets donation, because certain cancers and cancer treatments prevent patients from producing their own.

Ideal Blood Type

A positive, A negative, B positive, O positive, AB positive and AB negative

Ideal Donation Type

• Power Red, because red cells carry oxygen throughout the body and are frequently given to trauma and surgery patients.
• AB Elite plasma donation, because AB plasma is needed to help stop bleeding. Call 1-800-RED CROSS to make an AB Elite appointment.

Ideal Blood Type

• For Power Red: O positive, O negative, B negative, A negative
• For AB Elite: AB positive, AB negative

Ideal Donation Type

Whole blood or Power Red, especially from blood donors who are of African descent. Patients with sickle cell disease, who are predominantly Black, can require multiple blood transfusions every year. Donated blood must be very closely matched to the donor’s blood type to avoid transfusion-related complications. Since most patients with sickle cell disease are Black or African American, the most compatible blood type match is most often from a donor of the same race or ethnicity.

Ideal Blood Type

Type O, especially from blood donors who are Black.

Ideal Donation Type: AB Elite, because plasma helps maintain blood pressure and other vital functions.

Ideal Blood Type: AB positive, AB negative. Type AB, the universal plasma donor's blood can be given to any patient needing plasma. Make an even greater impact for patients in need by giving an AB Elite plasma donation. 

Give Plasma: Call to make an AB Elite appointment

Ideal Donation Type: A single whole blood donation can help more than one person.   

Ideal Blood Type: All blood types are needed